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The Fourth Republic (1946-1958)
The Fourth Republic was born on 27 October 1946. It came after the Second World War and the Liberation (Libération).
Key points of the sheet
- A new Constitution was adopted. Legislative power, held by Parliament, dominated executive power.
- Executive power was held by the President of the Council of Ministers (président du Conseil des ministres).
- The imbalance of powers, the lack of a majority in Parliament and government instability weakened the regime. Governments changed many times.
- The regime collapsed on 4 October 1958, in the middle of the Algerian war.
- The two presidents were Vincent Auriol (1947-1954) and René Coty (1954-1958).
- The Constitution guaranteed equality between women and men for the first time. Social protection also developed.
- The Fourth Republic laid the foundations of the welfare state (État-providence). It extended social security (sécurité sociale) and developed public services.
- The State became a central actor in reconstruction and economic development. It intervened directly in key sectors: planning, nationalisations, public companies.
Words to know
- legislative power (pouvoir législatif)
- Under the Fourth Republic, it was held by Parliament and dominated executive power.
- executive power (pouvoir exécutif)
- Under the Fourth Republic, it was held by the President of the Council of Ministers.
- government instability (instabilité gouvernementale)
- It means many changes of government, which weakened the Fourth Republic.
- welfare state (État-providence)
- The Fourth Republic laid its foundations by extending social security and developing public services.
- social security (sécurité sociale)
- The Fourth Republic extended it, and this model still exists today.
- nationalisations
- They are among the key areas where the State intervened directly.
Test yourself: 3 questions
In which year was the Fourth Republic born?
In French, the language of the exam: En quelle année naît la IVème République ?
The Fourth Republic was born on 27 October 1946, after the Second World War.
What did the Constitution of the Fourth Republic guarantee for the first time?
In French, the language of the exam: Que garantit pour la première fois la Constitution de la IVème République ?
The Constitution guaranteed equality between women and men for the first time.
Who were the two presidents of the Fourth Republic?
In French, the language of the exam: Qui sont les deux présidents de la IVème République ?
Vincent Auriol (1947-1954) and René Coty (1954-1958) were the two presidents of the Fourth Republic.
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More in this topic (Political regimes since 1789)
- The Restoration and the July Monarchy (1815-1848)
- The Third Republic (1870-1940)
- The First Empire (1804-1815)
Source
Sheet “La IVème République (1946-1958)” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.